Taliban and Security Forces Celebrate Eid Together
Hugging and laughing together was the order of the day for security forces and Taliban as they celebrated Eid together.

As the ceasefire continued to hold between the Afghan government and Taliban, hundreds of Taliban members arrived in cities, district centers and provincial capitals to celebrate Eid with the people and security forces.

Hundreds of Taliban members joined the people and security forces on Saturday, the second day of Eid-al-Fitr, while in some provinces they celebrated the first day of Eid with the people and Afghan soldiers.

Taliban members, security forces and the Afghan people said they were very happy about the ceasefire and urged both sides to extend the truce and pave the way for permanent peace in the country.

Ghani’s ceasefire started on the 27th of Ramadan (June 12) and will run through to the fifth day of Eid-al-Fitr (June 19).

Two days after Ghani announced the ceasefire, Taliban, issued a statement and ordered its fighters not to clash with the Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid.

The ceasefires were warmly welcomed around the country by the people and security forces.

Afghanistan’s international partners also welcomed the ceasefire and said they hoped it would lead both sides to permanent peace.

On Friday and Saturday hundreds of Taliban members appeared among members of the public in a number of provinces and districts, as well as in Kabul.

Kabul

Dozens of Taliban members on Saturday came to Kabul city from Maidan Wardak and Logar provinces.

TOLOnews journalists met with the Taliban members and people in parts of the city and reported that the atmosphere had been jovial.

Kabul police said Taliban members handed in their weapons and ammunition belts before entering the city. However, footage shows that in a few parts of the city, Taliban were carrying their weapons.

Residents meanwhile said they were very happy about seeing the waring parties hugging each other.

“I cried of happiness. I was crying of happiness that finally peace will come,” Abdullah, a resident of Kabul said.

“I am very happy, because they (Taliban) are our brothers,” Maroof, another resident said.

In another part of the city, Afghan interior minister Wais Ahmad Barmak greeted the Taliban and wished them a happy Eid.

“I hope that Inshallah peace will remain in Afghanistan and an Islamic government will come in to power across the world,” Hasibullah, a Taliban member said.

In Kabul’s Koti Sangi area security forces however arrested a Taliban member who was carrying a weapon.

“Based on the President’s order, the Taliban are allowed to enter Kabul up to tomorrow but need to hand their weapons to us,” Jawad, an army soldier said.

“Believe me I have never been so happy as I was about the ceasefire,” Ahmad, a resident of Kabul said.

Although the residents of Kabul welcomed the move they urged security forces not to let Taliban members carry their weapons in the city.

Zabul

Zabul provincial council members said 700 Taliban members on Saturday arrived in Qalat city, the provincial capital, and celebrated Eid along with the security forces and the residents.

According to the council members, Taliban greeted and hugged security forces in the city to celebrate Eid.

Local people, Taliban and security forces happily celebrated the second day of Eid and took selfies with each other.

“Around 700 Taliban have come to Qalat city. In districts they conducted Eid prayers together with the police chiefs and district governors,” Zabul provincial council head Atta Jan Haqbayan said.

“I hope that the ceasefire gets extended in the country,” a Taliban member said.

“I want peace and stability to come in the country,” another Taliban member said.

Residents of Zabul province said they were happy to see the Taliban and security forces celebrate Eid together.

“Now we have hope that we never had in the past 21 years,” Ahmadullah, a resident of Zabul said.

Nangarhar

In Nangarhar, a large number of Taliban arrived in Jalalabad city, the provincial capital, and in the district centers and met with their relatives and security forces.

TOLOnews journalist Ziar Yaad reported from the area and said the Taliban arrived with their white flag and celebrated Eid with the security forces and people.

Yaad said the Taliban said they want the temporary ceasefire to become permanent.

“They (security forces) are all our brothers. Our only aim is to remove the foreign troops and make them leave our country,” Bilal, a member of the Taliban said.

“We want all the parties to extend the ceasefire,” Obaidullah, a resident of Nangarhar said.

“This is what people have been hoping for in the past 40 years,” Farid, another resident said.

Laghman

In Laghman province dozens of Taliban members gathered at a mosque in Pul-e-Alma city, the provincial capital, and celebrated Eid.

They all said they hope for a peaceful future.

Kunduz

In Kunduz province, the Taliban were warmly welcomed by the people.

People gathered on the streets to welcome the Taliban and together they celebrated Eid.

Taliban in Kunduz said they want the foreign troops to leave the country and they will only end their war with the Afghan forces once this has happened.

“We want the infidels to leave our country and the Afghan forces such as army, police and public protection forces make peace with us,” Hamza, a Taliban member said.

Civilians said they are very happy that the Taliban and security forces were celebrating Eid together.

“Taliban brothers have come and the army brothers are also here. All the brothers have come together,” a Kunduz resident said.

“I cannot show them inside my heart - how I feel. Only Allah knows what I feel about peace,” Rahim, a member of the Taliban said.

India was the only country in the region against any role for Taliban in the main stream politics. From day one they wanted elimination of all Talibs, this was the understanding between US and India.

This has been a failure for India , even if they shamelessly dont accept it now. But the problem is Indians have no penetration into Afghan society or people. They just managed to hire few anti Pakistan elements like TTP and equipped them to carry out attacks in Schools and universities in Pakistan.

Once Talibans are back in some sort of arrangement in Afghan administration , Pak would get much needed relief on the western border. Recently as we all know Pak army has started handing over posts to frontier Corp in ex FATA area, just showing the dramatic improvement in security situation. Trump administration tried there best, went as far as putting Pakistan in Grey list in FATF, publicly threatened them and also blocked Aid. But Pakistan refused to take action against Haqqani network.

I see it as a victory for Taliban. It helps them defy the image of 'barbaric medivial terrorists' which the west wants to attach with them. Ceasfire with 'barbaric terrorists' is understanable but their being welcomed and greeted in cities is not. It only shows that people still consider them a fragmant of their society and one of their own. It only helps the Taliban in giving out a message that look, we are not unreasonable, we are not fassadists, we only want to kick out the white invader from the country and we've got nothing against the fellow Afghan muslim.

I see it as a victory for Taliban. It helps them defy the image of 'barbaric medivial terrorists' which the west wants to attach with them. Ceasfire with 'barbaric terrorists' is understanable but their being welcomed and greeted in cities is not. It only shows that people still consider them a fragmant of their society and one of their own. It only helps the Taliban in giving out a message that look, we are not unreasonable, we are not fassadists, we only want to kick out the white invader from the country and we've got nothing against the fellow Afghan muslim.

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Nothing has changed on the ground, it is just coming FATF meeting which has made the sponsors of taliban push them to the table. Once the meeting is over they will revert back to what their sponsors want them to do.

When you ppl are boasting that taliban has control over most parts of the country , Seriously why in the hell would they come to negotiating table ? what is there in it for them? They will simply continue doing what they are doing all along.

Nothing has changed on the ground, it is just coming FATF meeting which has made the sponsors of taliban push them to the table. Once the meeting is over they will revert back to what their sponsors want them to do.

When you ppl are boasting that taliban has control over most parts of the country , Seriously why in the hell would they come to negotiating table ? what is there in it for them? They will simply continue doing what they are doing all along.

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This is because you people don't know what Eid means to Muslims. It is a time of brotherhood and joy. The ANA are not the enemy of the Taliban, the master they serve is.

Nothing has changed on the ground, it is just coming FATF meeting which has made the sponsors of taliban push them to the table. Once the meeting is over they will revert back to what their sponsors want them to do.

When you ppl are boasting that taliban has control over most parts of the country , Seriously why in the hell would they come to negotiating table ? what is there in it for them? They will simply continue doing what they are doing all along.

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I never said anything has changed on ground. Nor it will.
Untill the day Taliban is accepted into the national circle, given their share in the govt and foreigners are kicked out.

Nothing has changed on the ground, it is just coming FATF meeting which has made the sponsors of taliban push them to the table. Once the meeting is over they will revert back to what their sponsors want them to do.

When you ppl are boasting that taliban has control over most parts of the country , Seriously why in the hell would they come to negotiating table ? what is there in it for them? They will simply continue doing what they are doing all along.

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If someone thinks that the 'sponsors' of Taliban can be brought to knees by the likes of FATF and such then let them try. No amount of coercing, convincing and threatning has ever yielded tangible results for the Americans. The 'sponsors' of Taliban always keep moving Americans in a circle.

Good to see this, inshallah it will lead to peace. Great news for Pakistan as well, as they can sit right in the middle of it and facilitate things.
After this it should be easy to skin the TTP/ISIS alive.

Nothing has changed on the ground, it is just coming FATF meeting which has made the sponsors of taliban push them to the table. Once the meeting is over they will revert back to what their sponsors want them to do.

When you ppl are boasting that taliban has control over most parts of the country , Seriously why in the hell would they come to negotiating table ? what is there in it for them? They will simply continue doing what they are doing all along.

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Ok for the sake of argument the takibans sponsors brought them to negotiation table or temporary cease fire --- but what about the Daesh sponsors in New Delhi ?? Aren't they considering to bring them to negotiation table or force them to consider a cease fire with Afg govt ? On Eid Daesh killed lots of ppl in afg -- when USA dropped the Mother of Bomb 14+ Indians were also killed, I guess they (Indians) were there on a honeymoon..